Home appliance and washing machine

ABSTRACT

A home appliance and a washing or drying apparatus according to the present invention include a photo-etched member, a transparent member affixed to the entire surface of the photo-etched member, and an adhesive member to attach the transparent member and the photo-etched member to each other. The adhesive member has various colors and is arranged such that the adhesive member is formed at a portion of the photo-etched member. Accordingly, a pattern can be decorated in various colors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention and Background of the Related Art

The present invention relates to a home appliance and a washing or drying apparatus, and more particularly, to a home appliance and a washing or drying apparatus including an adhesive member having colors.

Generally, home appliances refer to apparatuses for performing housework using energy, and washing or drying apparatuses refer to apparatuses for washing or drying an object. Examples of home appliances include a microwave oven, cleaner, laundry treating machine, drier, and dish washer. Examples of washing or drying apparatuses include a laundry treating machine, drier, and dish washer. All the home appliances and washing or drying apparatuses are generally printed, at an external appearance thereof, with various designs of patterns to stimulate the customers' interest. These patterns have been conventionally formed using silk screen printing, etc. After completely silk screen printing a pattern on a home appliance or a washing or drying apparatus, a transparent member has been affixed to the entire surface of the pattern, to aid realization of the pattern.

Problem to be Solved

An object of the present invention is to provide a home appliance and a washing or drying apparatus, in which an adhesive member affixed thereto has colors to arouse a user's aesthetic appreciation and a pattern formed on a photo-etched member is colored.

Construction of the Invention

The object of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned object and other objects that have not mentioned above will become evident to those skilled in the art from the following description.

To achieve the above object, there is provided a home appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, including a cabinet, a photo-etched member that is coupled to the cabinet and has a pattern formed by photo-etching, a transparent member affixed to the entire surface of the photo-etched member to decorate an external appearance of the cabinet, and an adhesive member that is interposed between the transparent member and the photo-etched member, has colors and attach the photo-etched member and the transparent member to each other.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided a washing or drying apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, including a cabinet, a photo-etched member that is coupled to the cabinet and has a pattern formed by photo-etching, a transparent member affixed to the entire surface of the photo-etched member to decorate an external appearance of the washing or drying apparatus, and an adhesive member that is interposed between the transparent member and the photo-etched member, has colors and attach the photo-etched member and the transparent member to each other.

The home appliance and the washing or drying apparatus according to the present invention include the adhesive member having colors. Accordingly, the pattern formed on the photo-etched member can be colored to arouse a user's aesthetic appreciation.

The present invention applies to home appliances and washing or drying apparatuses. The home appliances include apparatuses performing housework using electricity. The home appliances are not limited to a laundry treating machine 100. The washing or draying apparatuses include apparatuses that wash or dry objects, such as the laundry treating machine 100 and a dish washer. The washing or draying apparatuses are not limited to the laundry treating machine 100. Although the following embodiments of the present invention describe the laundry treating machine 100 for convenience of explanation, the present invention is not limited thereto and is applicable to a variety of washing machines.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the laundry treating machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the laundry treating machine 100 includes a cabinet 110, a tub (not shown) arranged in the cabinet 110 to store wash water introduced from an external source, a drum (not shown) rotatably arranged in the tub to receive laundry therein, a drive device (not shown) to drive the drum so as to transmit rotating force, a wash water supply device (not shown) to supply wash water from an external source at the outside of the cabinet 110, and a drain device (not shown) to discharge the wash water stored in the tub to the outside.

The cabinet 110 includes a cabinet body 111, a cover 113 arranged on the front side of the cabinet body 111 and attached thereto, a control panel 115 arranged on the cover 113 and connected to the cabinet body 111, and a top plate 116 coupled to an upper side of the cabinet body 111. The cover 113 is rotatably connected to the cabinet body 111. A pattern unit 160 is formed on the cover 113 and arouses a user's aesthetic appreciation. A combining part (not shown) is formed at one side of the cover 113. The combining part may be formed at one side of the cabinet body 111. The combining part may be formed outside of the cover 113. That is, the combining part is formed at the outside of the cover 113. The combining part may be integrated with the cover 113 outside the cover 113.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the partially cut-way portion A shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cover 113 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the pattern unit 160 includes a transparent member 161 forming the external appearance of the pattern unit 160, a photo-etched member 170 coupled to the transparent member 161 and formed with a pattern by photo-etching, and an adhesive member 162 provided between the transparent member 161 and the photo-etched member 170 to couple the transparent member 161 and the photo-etched member 170 to each other. The pattern is formed on one side of the photo-etched member 170 through etching. The photo-etched member 170 includes a lined portion 172 on which lines are formed by a predetermined interval, and a patterned portion 171 on which the pattern is formed by photo-etching. The patterned portion 171 is formed at one side of the lined portion 172. The lined portion 172 may be realized by a processing device that uses an abrasive sheet formed with appropriate sizes of particles. As the abrasive sheet is rotated at a high speed, the lined portion 172 of discontinuous pitches may be formed. Furthermore, the lined portion 172 may serve to enhance material texture of the patterned portion 171 to create a luxurious external appearance such as stainless steel. In addition, the lined portion 172 may prevent glare caused by scattered reflection of indoor light because the lined portion 172 is formed to create an uneven face on the surface of the cover 113. The lined portion 172 may be formed at a partial region of a surface, or the entire surface of the photo-etched member 170. The patterned portion 171 may be formed at the surface of the photo-etched member 170 in a state wherein the lined portion 172 has been formed. The lined portion 172 and the patterned portion 171 may be formed so as not to overlap each other.

Here, photo-etching is an ultra-precision processing technology and includes coating a photo-resist film on a metal surface, exposing and developing a partial image by ultraviolet light, and then, etching the exposed metal surface. In more detail, photo-etching is a combination of photolithography and etching. Photolithography includes applying a photo-resist solution over a substrate to form a photo-resist film, and selectively exposing and developing a partial image on the film by ultraviolet light having passed through a photo-mask (i.e. a patterned film). Etching is a technology for selectively etching a material surface using a developed photo-resist film as a protective film. Specifically, etching is one kind of a recess forming technology for perforating and cutting a recess in a metal surface where no protective film is present via electrolytic etching or chemical etching using an acid or alkali solution, ferric chloride solution, or the like. Finally, a finishing process for removing the protective film using an alkali solution, organic solvent, or the like may be added. Accordingly, a surface of the photo-etched member 170 is formed with the pattern by etching.

After completion of the photo-etched member 170, the transparent member 165 and the photo-etched member 170 are coupled to each other. The adhesive member 162 is inserted between the transparent member 161 and the photo-etched member 170 to attach the transparent member 161 and the photo-etched member 170 to each other. The adhesive member 162 may take the form of a desired adhesive film to closely attach the transparent member 161 and the photo-etched member 170 to each other. In one example, the adhesive film may include Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA). After completion of the above described process, the pattern unit 160 is coupled to the cabinet body 111 and the cover 113.

The PSA may have a single color or various colors. As occasion demands, only a part of the PSA may be colored. For this, the PSA may contain a colored material. The colored material may include a dye. The PSA may be selected from various kinds of adhesives. In one example, the PSA may include an acryl-based adhesive. Assuming use of the acryl-based adhesive, the PSA has high transparency and light transmissivity. As occasion demands, a desired color of dye may be added into the PSA to provide the PSA with a color. The colored PSA is shaped into a sheet, serving to attach the transparent member 161 and the photo-etched member 170 to each other.

The PSA may be formed such that only a partial region thereof is colored to correspond to the pattern. In one example, when a flower-shaped pattern is formed on the photo-etched member 170, a partial region of the PSA may be red to express a color of a flower petal. The PSA is positioned to coincide with the pattern such that the red region of the PSA corresponds to the flower-shaped pattern of the photo-etched member 170. In a state wherein pressure and heat are applied to the transparent member 161 and the photo-etched member 170 to couple the transparent member 161 and the photo-etched member 170 to each other by use of the PSA, the red color of the flower-shaped pattern can be seen from the outside. In another example, the entire PSA may be colored. When the pattern unit 160 is arranged on the cabinet 110 to decorate an external appearance of the cabinet 110, a color of the pattern unit 160 may be realized by the color of the PSA. Accordingly, controlling the color of the pattern unit 160 may arouse a user's aesthetic appreciation and purchase interest with respect to a product.

Acting Effects

The PSA may be divided into a colorless portion and a colored portion which are coupled to each other. In other words, the PSA may include a colored portion (not shown) containing the dye, and a transparent portion (not shown) containing no dye. The colored portion and the transparent portion may be coupled to each other to form the PSA. When the PSA is used to attach the transparent member 161 and the photo-etched member 170 to each other, the PSA is positioned such that the colored portion thereof corresponds to the pattern. As the colored portion of the PSA corresponds to the pattern, the pattern expresses the color of the PSA. The colored PSA may serve as an aid to arouse a user's aesthetic appreciation and purchase interest with respect to a product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a laundry treating machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the partially cut-way portion A shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cover shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2. 

1. A home appliance comprising: a pattern unit having a pattern formed by photo-etching; and a casing member defining an external shape of the home appliance and having a coupling part to which the pattern unit is detachably coupled.
 2. The home appliance of claim 1, wherein the coupling part takes the form of a trim kit for exchange of the pattern unit.
 3. The home appliance of claim 1, further comprising a cover coupled to the coupling part after the pattern unit is inserted into the coupling part, so as to keep the pattern unit at a fixed position.
 4. The home appliance of claim 1, wherein the pattern unit includes: a transparent member; a photo-etched member having the pattern formed by photo-etching; and an adhesive member provided between the transparent member and the photo-etched member to couple the transparent member and the photo-etched member to each other.
 5. The home appliance of claim 4, wherein the transparent member includes a glass member.
 6. The home appliance of claim 4, wherein the adhesive member includes Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA).
 7. The home appliance of claim 4, wherein the adhesive member has a color.
 8. The home appliance of claim 7, wherein the adhesive member has a color corresponding to the pattern.
 9. The home appliance of claim 1, wherein the coupling part includes a guide portion for sliding movement of the pattern unit.
 10. The home appliance of claim 9, wherein the guide portion and the casing member are formed as a single body.
 11. The home appliance of claim 1, wherein: the pattern unit includes a retention protrusion; and the casing member includes a fixing recess for coupling of the retention protrusion.
 12. The home appliance of claim 1, further comprising a door, wherein the casing member defines an external shape of the door.
 13. A washing machine comprising: a pattern unit having a pattern formed by photo-etching; and a casing member defining an external shape of the home appliance and having a coupling part to which the pattern unit is detachably coupled.
 14. The washing machine of claim 13, wherein the coupling part takes the form of a trim kit for exchange of the pattern unit.
 15. The washing machine of claim 13, further comprising a cover coupled to the coupling part after the pattern unit is inserted into the coupling part, so as to keep the pattern unit at a fixed position.
 16. The washing machine of claim 13, wherein the pattern unit includes: a transparent member; a photo-etched member having the pattern formed by photo-etching; and an adhesive member provided between the transparent member and the photo-etched member to couple the transparent member and the photo-etched member to each other.
 17. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the transparent member includes a glass member.
 18. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the adhesive member includes Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA).
 19. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the adhesive member has a color.
 20. The washing machine of claim 19, wherein the adhesive member has a color corresponding to the pattern.
 21. The washing machine of claim 13, wherein the coupling part includes a guide portion for sliding movement of the pattern unit.
 22. The home appliance of claim 21, wherein the guide portion and the casing member are formed as a single body.
 23. The washing machine of claim 13, wherein: the pattern unit includes a retention protrusion; and the casing member includes a fixing recess for coupling of the retention protrusion.
 24. The washing machine of claim 13, further comprising a door, wherein the casing member defines an external shape of the door. 